The Best Indie Movies of 2015, According to the Criticwire Network

The Best Indie Movies of 2015, According to the Criticwire Network

Throughout the year, members of Indiewire’s Criticwire Network — comprised of nearly 500 critics from around the world — have been adding their grades and reviews to our database of film pages. Below is a collection of those films released in theaters during that time that have a) received 15 or more reviews and b) maintained a grade average of "B+" or higher.

Averages and totals are subject to change, but we’ll update the list with new additions as notable titles make their way onto theaters or VOD screens across the country. But for now, here are the films from 2015 that the Criticwire Network has collectively selected as the year’s upper echelon.

For a similarly-updated breakdown of the latest additions and other notable upcoming films, see our analysis on the Criticwire blog.

The Best Films of 2015, According to the Criticwire Network(last updated: December 31st)

I thought "Maggie" was the most remarkable film, esp. in the horror genre (but much more) I’ve seen this year. It was visually exquisite, and featured a startling performance by the usually exobiological Arnold, one in which he redefined his capabilities in my mind. "It Follows," while clever, wasn’t a patch on "Maggie" in my opinion. There was that shot (no spoilers) very near the end, a closeup on Abigail Breslin’s eyes (I can say no more) that was deliciously poetic and touching.

I have seen quite a few of the films on the list, but I think Gett: The Trial of Viviane Ansalem is by far the best. The acting is supburb. Its a film about love, its a film about marriage, its a film about the desire of self determination, its a film exploring a culture that we don’t live in and can’t understand, its a domestic drama, its about the nature of friendship, it’s a drama about a trial, its about compromise, its about unrequited love, it’s about trust, it’s about mistrust, it’s about humanity. Just a stunning achievement.

Absolutely thrilled to see Timbuktu at the top of this list. That movie was absolutely incredible. It is so emotional not to mention an important fictional account of the barbarism of Islamic jihadists in Mali in 2012 and the silent revolt of the city’s residents. Way to go critics, you got that one right!